Where to Get Help

Eldercare Locator  — (800) 677-1116

Monday–Friday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time.

Adult Protective Services (APS) — by county

• Sonoma County APS — (800) 667.0404 (24-hour hotline)
• Marin County APS — (415) 473.2774 (24-hour hotline)
• Napa County APS — (888) 619.6913 (24-hour hotline)
• Placer County APS — (888) 886.5401 (24-hour hotline)
• Sacramento County APS — (916) 874-9377 (24-hour hotline)

Recognizing the Signs of Elder Financial Abuse

The financial exploitation of vulnerable adults is often subtle. Keep an eye out for these warning signs:

Red flags

• Money that’s gone missing, or account activity no one can explain
• Out-of-character spending such as large withdrawals, repeated transfers, or crypto purchases
• ATM activity that doesn’t match where the person is or how easily they get around
• Questionable checks, such as forged signatures or numbers that are out of order

Scam indicators

• Frequent or drawn-out calls with people no one recognizes
• Callers posing as tech support, a bank, or a government agency

Account changes

• Unexpected changes to Power of Attorney or who owns the account
• New joint accounts, or unfamiliar people gaining access

Caregiver concerns

• Unusually large or frequent payments to a caregiver
• Hints of pressure or undue influence

Other warning signs

• Account statements suddenly redirected to a new address
• Someone new, such as a recent romantic partner stepping in to take financial control